Sci-fi movie with Scarlett Johansson: we immediately think of “Blockbuster”? In theory, yes, but in practice, Under the Skin, one of the most unusual genre films of the past decade, came out in 2013 (2014 here). Despite its already “low” budget of $13 million, the film only managed to earn $5.8 million at the international box office.
And yet the press, especially the French, loved it: rating the film 4 out of 5 on our site, one would think it would encourage viewers to give the film a chance. Those who did have mixed opinions: some love it, some hate it. For example, AlloCiné viewers were quite wary of Jonathan Glazer’s third feature ( Zone of Interest ), giving it a low score of 2.6 out of 5…
But some movie lovers claim: the movie is worth watching and will simply be a masterpiece. In the program, in the end, this is not a science fiction blockbuster, but an extraterrestrial odyssey (Scarlett Johansson) that travels across Scotland to ensnare unsuspecting men is as mysterious as it is visually stunning. The film, quite experimental, hard to describe, is really – and we stay on the topic – aliens.
For some people, under the skin Sometimes it reminds you of 2001: A Space Odyssey, while Jonathan Glazer plays on the semi-documentary aspect of his project, and critics in 2014 referred to the project as “One of the most interesting feature films of recent months” (Le Monde) or even “A fascinating film that questions the power of cinema” (Les Inrockuptibles).
Although it deals with important questions about the nature of humanity, under the skinLoosely adapted from the novel by Michael Faber, World changer, does not provide solutions to most of its many puzzles – which can either fascinate or outright frustrate. For the Prime Minister, this is one of his strengths: “By getting rid of ultimately useless explanations, the director has refined the story to the abstract limit. The result is immersion in a world of pure sensations, the result of an incredible harmony between image and sound.“
Anyway, under the skin Remaining a bold venture, the film is certainly unlike any other. “Formally very beautiful, dark, surreal, confusing“As described here.
And for the record, it wasn’t like that at first Scarlett Johansson Who should have played the main role… but Brad Pitt! then Jonathan Glazer The script was rewritten, Gemma Arterton, Eva Green and Olivia Wilde were considered for the role, but the studio only wanted to finance the film if a very big name was attached to the project. Luckily, the Marvel star and legendary Black Widow translator was up for the experiment!
Is it your turn? Are you ready to experience under the skin? If you haven’t already, I suggest you do: the movie is available for streaming on Filmo.
Source: Allocine
Rose James is a Gossipify movie and series reviewer known for her in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the latest releases. With a background in film studies, she provides engaging and informative reviews, and keeps readers up to date with industry trends and emerging talents.
